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Normal sting reaction?

Morning all... Yesterday around noon I was tagged on my thumb while working my top bar hive. I was holding a bar at the time and it took a good 30 seconds or more to put the bar back in place, so I got a pretty full load of venom. Finished up, then took a benedryl.
At first, there was just some localized redness. After a few hours, the nearest joint became sore with some slight swelling and generalized itchiness in the immediate area. By bedtime, the sting spot became a slightly raised reddish bump.
This morning, the sting site looks more like a blood blister.

And the swollen, itchy area has expanded to the base of my thumb on the palm side and most of the back of my hand (enclosed in blue).

Also my wrist and elbow seem a little sore.

Is this within the range of a normal bee sting reaction, or should I be a bit more concerned?

Re: Normal sting reaction?

Looks normal for one of the more worse stings. Sometimes they can leave a blister like a fire ant does. But this usually isn't the case. I think it has to do more with the exact location of the stinger penetration. Some spots don't seem to have anything beyond a minor stinging, where the same bees stinging you somewhere else might say, hit a nerve, or area where any pointed penetraton would be more injurious or sensative. Take a Benadryl.

Re: Normal sting reaction?

Thanks. Makes my wife feel better. I told her that if it was going to be fatal, it would have been so already. Not sure why she suggested I go inspect them again.
She had at least 30 seconds to give me her full dose, so this reaction isn't a big surprise. I just hope it goes down quickly.

Re: Normal sting reaction?

At the end of my second year beekeeping I had a sting that caused my armpits to and groin to come out in hives. I got an Epipen as insurance, and suited up every time I was even near the hives. Fear takes a lot of pleasure out of beekeeping.
Over the following winter I gave myself shots of 1/100th a sting for a few weeks weekly, and then 1/50 a sting weekly, and then 1/10th sting weekly, and then a sting weekly. What I do now is take a bee and sting myself about twice a week. This seems to have prevented any further scary reactions.

Re: Normal sting reaction?

Originally Posted by Merlinspop

Morning all... Yesterday around noon I was tagged on my thumb while working my top bar hive. I was holding a bar at the time and it took a good 30 seconds or more to put the bar back in place, so I got a pretty full load of venom. Finished up, then took a benedryl.
At first, there was just some localized redness. After a few hours, the nearest joint became sore with some slight swelling and generalized itchiness in the immediate area. By bedtime, the sting spot became a slightly raised reddish bump.
This morning, the sting site looks more like a blood blister.

And the swollen, itchy area has expanded to the base of my thumb on the palm side and most of the back of my hand (enclosed in blue).

Also my wrist and elbow seem a little sore.

Is this within the range of a normal bee sting reaction, or should I be a bit more concerned?

Thanks - Bruce

Normal to mild reaction. Just don't get it on your forehead. I got one and the swelling of about 3/4" "traveled" down to my eyes and nose. I looked like a heavyweight boxer after a lost fight. Benadryl, tee bags, burdock leaves helped. Use vinegar if the site is away from your eyes. It should be gone in a week.

Re: Normal sting reaction?

my first sting this year was on the web between thumb and index finger ...almost identical reaction ...since then and 4 or 5 sttings later almost no reactions anymore...lol got poped right on top my poor bald head today and no signs it ever happend now

Re: Normal sting reaction?

Merlin- I had a similar thing happen to me about 2 weeks ago. I've had bees for 10 years and never had a problem with stings. I got stung on Saturday on my left hand. It swelled some. On Sunday, I got zapped three more times on the same hand in a matter of seconds. By Monday, my hand looked like the Michelin Man and I couldn't close my fingers. I went to the ER and got steroids. What he told me for future reference was to take a Benedryl and also a Pepcid or a Tagamet. Those work on tow different types of histamine cells which is what causes the swelling.
He also suggested I see an allergist to get desensitized. Now today, I got stung in the right leg through my jeans and nothing....Who can figure. I do keep an epi pen around also. Just in case. And being a nurse, I've seen plenty of worse case scenarios so I like to be prpared.
I hope your hand feels better.

Re: Normal sting reaction?

Extreme swelling at a sting site is not an allergic reaction. It is the sign of a healthy immune system. Also, if someone is not allergic, getting a few stings here and there will help the body to desensitize.

Just a reminder that beta blocker medications can interfere with the epi pen. The apitherapist also recommended that we eat something before we sting so that may help beekeepers also. We were also cautioned not to have alcohol in our system 24 hours before or after stinging.